Let h = half dollars (50¢ or .5) let p = pennies (1¢ or .01) 0.5h + 0.01p = 23.96 h + p = 93 multiply top equation by (-100) to make coefficients of p opposite -50h - p = -2396 h + p = 93 combine -49h = -2303 simplify h = 46 find p 46 + p = 93 subtract & simplify p = 47